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Let’s Pregame: Flyers vs. Islanders

I think it’s time we all get out our final thoughts about the past weekend. The Flyers lost to the Penguins in an embarrassing fashion, Michal Neuvirth developed a lower-body injury that will have him out of the lineup for the rest of the regular season and the Red Wings won a game and pushed us right back out of a playoff spot. Okay go ahead and curse about it….. Okay now forget about it. It’s a new playoff push. The Flyers aren’t eliminated yet and we may get to see the future of Flyers goaltending in action in the later part of the season.

Remember when we weren’t worried about goalies?

It took three whole games for whatever injury Michal Neuvirth is currently suffering from to develop into an actual lower-body injury. The Flyers exceptional backup goalie will be out the rest of the regular season or three weeks. This isn’t good. The Flyers have four sets of back-to-back games coming up, and with only one goaltender, that’s gonna be rough to get through.

To back up Mason, the Flyers have called up Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz. Stolarz is expected to get at least one game in the stretch of games. Stolarz has a 19-15-7 record this season in 42 games and a .916 save percentage. Stolarz deserves to get a look against some of the weaker teams coming up in the schedule, but Mason will be doing most of the work until the end of the season. Tonight Mason gets the start against the Islanders.

How ’bout them Isles?

The Islanders find themselves slipping down the standings. The Penguins managed to hop over them when they beat us and hopefully we can jump them too. It might be hard though. The Islanders haven’t lost a home game in regulation since January 25th.

Much like Dave Hakstol, the Islanders coach Jack Capuano is very fond of keeping his 4th line together. Casey Cizikas has 25 points, Ryan White has 14, so the Isles have a bit more skill on their 4th line, or more luck whichever it is, it will probably work against the Flyers if they don’t keep an eye on that line. The Isles are also missing a goalie due to injury. Their starter, Jaroslav Halak is out for a long stretch of time and they’re forced to rely on backup Thomas Greiss.

That’s not a help for the Flyers, as they’ve struggled against backup goalies this season.

Lineup Stuff.

Evgeny Medvedev is still a healthy scratch. Not sure what the issue is at this point but it’s past the point of being shocking. Mason is in as the starter. Jake Voracek looks to be starting on the 3rd line again tonight. Jordan Weal was skating at this morning’s practice in Sean Couturier’s spot while Coots has a maintenance day according to Dave Isacc.